Cohiba became the latest cigar brand to get is name on a smoking lounge when the first Cohiba Lounge in the United States opened on December 12 at Nice Ash Cigars in Depew, New York, near Buffalo.

The 900-square-foot lounge features soft leather seating, Cohiba artwork, 40 cherry wood cigar lockers, a pool table, dart board, HDTV, wireless Internet access and a conference table. There are club membership fees, and the general public can attend during special events.

Branded cigar lounges have been appearing all over the United States over the past 18 months, especially as smoking restrictions limit the places where cigar lovers can enjoy a smoke. Casa Fuente in Las Vegas is one of the best-known branded cigar lounges. The largest is the Diamond Crown series of lounges, which number 52. Carlos Toraco and Tabacalera Perdomo recently opened cigar lounges, and there are lounges for Avo, Miami Cigar, Camacho and Gurkha cigars, among others.